Dr. Don E. Saliers will speak on “Hymnody as Ecumenism” at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 3, in Somers Lounge on The College of St. Scholastica campus. The lecture is free and open to the public.

'Hymnody' refers to the singing of hymns. Saliers is one of the foremost writers on hymnody and music in the liturgy.

During his talk he will focus on some of the most important poetic and theological aspects emerging in sung prayer. “In particular,” he says, “I will open up the question of doxology and lament in an age of suffering and spiritual yearning.”

Saliers is a retired professor of theology and worship at Emory University in Atlanta, where he also served as director of the master of sacred music program. For the past 33 years, he has been organist and choirmaster at the university’s Cannon Chapel.

He has contributed to the "United Methodist Hymnal," "The Book of Worship," and the recent "Upper Room Worshipbook." He is the author or coauthor of 15 books and over 100 essays and book chapters. In 2005 he wrote “A Song to Sing, a Life to Live” with daughter Emily Saliers, who is one-half of the Grammy Award-winning duo Indigo Girls.

He lectures, preaches and leads retreats widely across North America, and has taught regularly at Notre Dame, St. John’s University, Vancouver School of Theology, and Boston College. He has served as president of the North American Academy of Liturgy and The Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality.

He received his Ph.D. and a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Yale University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio Wesleyan University.

The talk is part of the “Here Comes Everybody” lecture series sponsored by the Braegelman Catholic Studies Program at The College of St. Scholastica.

Last lecture in this series:

“Is a Catholic College a Contradiction in Terms?” by Dennis O’Brien, Ph.D.
7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 8
Somers Lounge St. Scholastica campus
O'Brien is the author of “The Idea of a Catholic University” and “All the Essential Half-Truths about Higher Education.”

The Braegelman Catholic Studies Program at St. Scholastica explores the Catholic intellectual tradition with students and the larger community. “Here Comes Everybody” takes its name from author James Joyce, who offered the phrase in his definition of Catholicism. For more information contact The Rev. William Graham at (218) 723-6699 or wgraham@css.edu.